Lesion excision is a surgical procedure to remove cancerous lesions from your skin. This procedure might be a treatment option for you if you have basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer or melanoma, the most aggressive type of skin cancer.
The providers at A to Z Dermatology might also recommend a lesion excision as a preventive treatment if you don't have cancer, but if you have a growth that could turn cancerous.
What can I expect during a lesion excision procedure?
During a lesion excision, the dermatology providers at A to Z Dermatology will use minimally invasive surgical techniques to remove cancerous lesions from your skin. They will also remove a portion of the surrounding skin, known as the margin.
The size of the margin will depend on the type of skin cancer you have. This excess tissue removal helps to ensure cancer won't spread to other areas of your skin.
There are several types of techniques the providers uses to excise the lesion, including:
Shave excision
Shave excision involves using a small blade to remove the outermost layer of your skin as well as the lesion after the area is made numb.
Scissor excision
Scissor excision involves removing a lesion that rises above the surface of the skin with a pair of small scissors.
Curettage and electrodesiccation
Curettage and electrodesiccation is a technique that involves scraping out a skin lesion. The providers may also use a high-frequency electrical current (electrodesiccation) before or after this procedure.
Laser excision
Laser energy is useful for removing some types of skin cancer by focusing a laser beam on a precise location of your skin to heat and destroy the lesion.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is also a form of lesion excision that uses extreme cold to destroy cancerous and precancerous skin lesions.
Mohs surgery
Mohs surgery is a specialized surgery that involves removing skin lesions layer by layer. The providers examines each layer under a microscope and continues to remove skin until no skin cancer is present.
Following your lesion excision, the providers at A to Z Dermatology provides guidance for protecting your skin and preventing infection.
Smaller wounds heal on their own within a few weeks. For larger wounds, you might have stitches. It's important to keep your skin clean and dry while you heal.
The dermatology providers monitors your wound healing process to minimize your risk for infection and scarring. They also check your skin for additional signs of skin cancer to ensure you don't need additional treatment.